Sculpture vandalism causes increased security

“A Startling Whirlwind of Opportunity,” the spiraling sculpture in the middle of the Pedestrian Mall, currently sits with one of the bulbs on the piece broken. It’s been that way for over a month, waiting for a $400 replacement bulb, and that damage is just one example of the vandalism the sculpture’s endured since its installation this summer.

The starburst part of the piece was also broken on the night of the Pedestrian Mall sculpture’s dedication on Sept. 11, Jason Brown, associate professor in sculpture, said. But since it could be glued, it was repaired within a week.

“It caught probably several administrators’ attention because of the timing of it,” Brown said. “It was so close to the dedication, and the donor, Chick Hill, was still on campus for the home game. He took it in stride, I would say.”

No one was identified for the starburst vandalism because of the lack of cameras at that time. In reaction to the starburst’s break, temporary cameras were set up the following week, Brown said, with university police looking at the possibility of permanent cameras for the area.

“I don’t think they’ve had anybody stationed out there for home games after the first two home games, basically,” Brown said. “It didn’t really do any good, as it turned out.”

Then the bulb was damaged on Oct. 3, and due to the temporary camera’s lack of quality, no one was identified in this incident either. Brown said he was told videotape evidence exists that shows a blurry individual climbing the sculpture on that date.

“It was just a mysterious, shadowy figure,” he said.

About three weeks ago, permanent cameras with higher video quality were installed.

Since the bulb could not be glued and it was not a “clean break” like the starburst, Brown said the university has to replace it with a new one made in Florida. The price quote given for the replacement bulb is $400, which Brown said the university will most likely have to pay.

Going further, he said, after looking at worst-case scenarios, if the starburst lighting element were ever damaged beyond repair, it would cost in excess of $20,000.

In addition to these two incidents, Brown said the piece was rolled with toilet paper multiple times, a traffic cone was put on top of the sculpture and it also has had a tar-like substance applied to it, but all these cases were minor and easily fixed.

UTPD Capt. Keith Lambert said the only sculpture vandalism that was reported to the police department was about the night of Sept. 11’s damages to the starburst in a report on Sept. 15. Brown said he called in the report.

Brown stressed that the blame does not necessarily fall on students for this vandalism, as the campus opens up for various events, and anyone could have perpetrated it.

“I don’t think it reflects very well on the university,” Brown said. “But at the same time, it happens. It’s just a part of most all public art and public infrastructure stuff that I’m familiar with.”

Jeff Maples, senior associate vice chancellor for finance and administration, expressed his dissatisfaction with the vandalism.

“It’s very disappointing,” Maples said. “It’s very alarming. They’re some people that, for whatever reason, are not very fond of the sculpture, but I know some other people who like it a lot. ... The artist is a very famous artist. I think it adds to the campus beautification.”

In a September interview with The Daily Beacon, sculpture artist Alice Aycock commented on the possibility of vandalism.

“You have sculptures in all kinds of places around America, and it’s not vandalized, and it is respected,” Aycock said. “And I would hope the University of Tennessee would behave like all the other colleges and public places where I have art.”

Zack Crane, senior in electrical engineering and a member of the Facebook group “The Pedestrian Mall Sculpture is Hideous!,” said activities like rolling the sculpture are harmless, but no one should break or damage it.

“I think pretty much, at this point, it’s just an eyesore we all have to learn to live with, and honestly, vandalizing it isn’t really going to help anything,” Crane said. “It’s just going to cost the university more money that it doesn’t have to begin with.”

Though, he said he thought rolling the sculpture after every home game could have worked as a tradition that placated those who dislike the sculpture.

In late September, Associate Dean of Students J.J. Brown talked with the creator of the anti-sculpture Facebook group, Isaac Bosley, as well as Crane and two other members about ways to address the student backlash, Crane said.

Those from the Facebook group were interested in having the sculpture removed or relocated, but about four weeks after the meeting, Crane said the group received an e-mail opening the door to contact SGA President Laura Nishida about starting a petition.

“There’s things about campus that people don’t like that they learn to live with,” Crane said. “I don’t see this as something people will ever look back on fondly. I think that this will honestly go down as a laughing stock.”